When you think of northern California, what comes to mind may be the impressive Redwood Forests with the famous drive-through trees. California is also home to part of the Yosemite National Park system. You can find Napa Valley, famous for wineries and natural hot springs, just north of San Francisco. Travel inland and find Death Valley with the highest ambient air temperature recorded in the world. But along the coast, you can find many tent camping options that are family-friendly, pet-friendly and full of exciting activities. This coastline has a wide range of geological aspects to explore and discover. These three below are all along US 101 north of San Francisco.
Clam Beach
This camping site is 288 miles north of San Francisco, just about a five-hour drive. If you're coming from the Medford, Oregon area, you'll travel approximately three and a half hours or about 176 miles. This is a county-maintained park and is open year-round. You can enjoy the beach by taking your pooch for a quick run along the coast (dogs are allowed off-leash on the wave slope but need to be on leash on dry sand), build a beach fire to go along with clam digging or enjoy horseback riding against a Californian sunset. You will find fifteen sites with a first-come first-serve, three-night maximum stay policy and a $25 camping fee. And it's worth every penny!
Salt Point State Park
Head south, just over 200 miles, and you can find Salt Point State Park. This park is one of the first underwater preserves in California with a raw and rugged feel. Each campsite has a picnic table, a fire pit, drinking water and restroom facilities without showers. There are 30 ocean-side sites and 79 across the highway on the east. If you're over the age of 16 and have a fishing license, you'll be able to enjoy local fishing holes on a solitary venture or while relaxing with friends and family. There are also scuba and free-diving areas along with kayaking trails and tide pools. Non-aquatic trails are available for hikers and equestrians, as well. Reservations are highly recommended during the peak season, which falls between March and October.
Steep Ravine
Just under 80 miles south of Salt Point, within Mount Tamalpais State Park, you can camp at Steep Ravine. This is very close to the Bay area and open spots fill up fast, so make your reservations at least six months in advance. Once you get there, you'll experience the simple yet rustic sites. After you've settled in, take some time to take advantage of the beautiful hiking trails and experience the serene camp grounds. Depending on the time of year that you pitch your tent, you may even witness a whale or two migrating.
When traveling along the northern coastline of California, be sure to make a pit stop at any of these three campgrounds.
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Sandy Malbrue
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